What Double Rifle

[Tucketed]

Question, would you buy a decent 375HH SXS or a O/U 450/400? I have a bolt 375 and 404 but wanting to dip into the double territory and have these options.

 

[thriller]

450/400 is what I have and I would choose it again anytime. I would love to add a larger one to it

 

[sgt_zim]

450/400, hands down. If I ever buy a double, I'd go with 450/400 3". I can't think of anything sexier than a 450/400 double.

 

[Andrew62]

I own a 450/400 OU, it is a beautiful gun in a classic caliber. Having said that, I prefer the look of a side by side a great deal more.

 

[Bandera]

Neither one.
It would be a SXS and in 450-400.
I already have a 450-400 Ruger No.1 and I reload for it. So it would be the SXS 450-400

 

[Tucketed]

love a nice 450-400 SXS but more “dipping” then I care for right now.

 

[IvW]

What make is the 450/400?

 

[Philip Glass]

Question, would you buy a decent 375HH SXS or a O/U 450/400? I have a bolt 375 and 404 but wanting to dip into the double territory and have these options.

I love the .450/400

 

[Tucketed]

@IvW looking at a Zoli

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I’d go for a side by side .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, regulated for 300Gr Federal Premium Swift A Frames

 

[Rare Breed]

You already have a 375 why not go with the new caliber?

 

[IvW]

@IvW looking at a Zoli

Great gun and performs well in that caliber just buy it and happy hunting

 

[MacJenkins]

I would do 450/400. My 375 flanged gets used the least. Seams I almost always want a bigger double for lager animals or smaller double for plainsgame.

 

[rookhawk]

Question, would you buy a decent 375HH SXS or a O/U 450/400? I have a bolt 375 and 404 but wanting to dip into the double territory and have these options.

Neither would be my preference. The 375HH is not a particularly good double rifle for a couple reasons. 1.) Is that you're reliant on an ejector system due to it being a rimless cartridge, 2.) because double rifles are typically regulated to the "original" load which in the case of 375HH is going to be a fairly lethargic and fussy load. You cannot easily eek out more power from a double rifle nor can you arbitrarily decide you want a heavier grain bullet, they shoot what they shoot.

The 450-400 is a better choice because its an actual double rifle caliber, but an over under requires you to open the gun quite a bit further due to the larger gape. A jam of an over/under is more common because of that gape where the bottom chamber may not eject or extract properly if it isn't opened all the way.

Why not get a "proper" double rifle in 450-400, 470, or 500 in SxS configuration?

 

[MacJenkins]

Neither would be my preference. The 375HH is not a particularly good double rifle for a couple reasons. 1.) Is that you're reliant on an ejector system due to it being a rimless cartridge, 2.) because double rifles are typically regulated to the "original" load which in the case of 375HH is going to be a fairly lethargic and fussy load. You cannot easily eek out more power from a double rifle nor can you arbitrarily decide you want a heavier grain bullet, they shoot what they shoot.

The 450-400 is a better choice because its an actual double rifle caliber, but an over under requires you to open the gun quite a bit further due to the larger gape. A jam of an over/under is more common because of that gape where the bottom chamber may not eject or extract properly if it isn't opened all the way.

Why not get a "proper" double rifle in 450-400, 470, or 500 in SxS configuration?

This is an excellent post. My 375 flanged was the absolute hardest double rifle I’ve worked on to regulate. Would need to check but from memory I was 300ish rounds to find a load that shot good. Which it shoots excellent with RL17 powder. Was a good 20+ range trips to get there however.

 

[Tucketed]

@rookhawk understand your opinion and appreciate. My budget for dipping into double rifles is on the low end. I would love to do a real double but just checking it out. I have a few sxs shotguns and a few o/u but no rifle. Just like the idea of a quick follow up. I like the attributes of both.

 

[rookhawk]

@rookhawk understand your opinion and appreciate. My budget for dipping into double rifles is on the low end. I would love to do a real double but just checking it out. I have a few sxs shotguns and a few o/u but no rifle. Just like the idea of a quick follow up. I like the attributes of both.

Spending $8000 on a double rifle is a terrible double rifle. Spending $8000 on a magazine rifle is a tremendous magazine rifle.

No idea what your budget is, but I would advise you strongly against owning a double rifle that costs less than $15,000. All that money and it is usually a piece of junk. Caveat emptor.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I prefer the 450/400 to the 375FL, but not a fan of the O/U platform. Save a bit more and get a 450/400 in a SxS.

 

[Tucketed]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have been on here long enough to understand all of your points especially the budget. I was looking at a Iphsi 375HH at a very good price and it got my wheels turning again. Guess I will keep looking. Thanks again